The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) - Cassandra Clare Page 0,94
He tried to be careful—startling Magnus didn’t seem wise either—but no amount of speaking Magnus’s name or touching him invoked any reaction.
“Come on, wake up,” Alec said urgently. He jiggled Magnus’s knee.
“We could throw some water on him,” suggested Clary.
“I don’t think there’s any water,” said Jace. “Maybe Magnus can conjure some up. Some food, too.”
“If we can wake him up,” said Clary.
“Wake up!” Alec said again, and then they heard the rustle of movement and turned to see Shinyun descending toward them through the blank hole where a window should have been.
She landed lightly, her elongated limbs folding under her, giving her an eerie insectile appearance. Jace drew his spear, and Clary her dagger. Alec continued to nudge Magnus, more and more desperately.
“I don’t want to fight,” Shinyun called out. Nobody moved to put their weapons away.
She approached, and they stood their ground. “Is Magnus… asleep?”
“It’s been a long day,” said Alec dryly.
“He suffers without the third thorn,” she said.
“He’d choose to die.”
“It’s very interesting,” said Shinyun, “how many people choose not to die, when the final decision comes.” She eyed them. “It’s usually because they worry about the effect it will have on others.”
“Not a problem for you, I guess,” said Jace.
“No,” she agreed. “I understand the nature of power too well to allow myself the kind of sentimental attachments that tether most people to the world. A world that will fail them, in the end.”
“You’re wrong,” Magnus said faintly.
Alec helped him sit up. He blinked his eyes, larger and more luminous than they had been, so familiar to Alec and yet becoming more alien with every passing hour.
“You’re wrong,” Magnus said again. “Those so-called sentimental attachments—they are where strength comes from. Where real power comes from.”
“It amazes me,” said Shinyun, “that you would think that, even after living four hundred years. After outliving so many. Knowing you’ll outlive all of them.” She gestured at the Shadowhunters.
“Not at this rate,” Magnus said lightly, gently running a hand down his front, as if checking to make sure all his organs were still inside.
Shinyun ignored this. “You know that time is a cruel joke, that it takes everything from us eventually. Time is a machine for turning love into pain.”
“But there’s so much fun to be had on the way,” murmured Magnus. He shook his head. “You can say it prettily, but that doesn’t make it true.”
Shinyun sighed. “I didn’t come here to argue philosophy with you, Magnus.”
“I didn’t think you did,” Magnus said. “I guess I assumed you came here to taunt us and lecture us.”
“No,” said Shinyun, a frown in her voice. “I came to tell you where to find your friend Simon.”
* * *
“WHY IN THE WORLD,” SAID Magnus, “would you do that?”
He had been embarrassed, when he came to, that he had fallen into some kind of trance. Already the memory of his dream was fading from his mind, and he could remember only tiny snippets: Raphael Santiago’s legs dangling from his kitchen counter. Max holding up his arms to help Alec put his shirt on. Blood trails on the rug.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Shinyun said.
Alec folded his arms. “Then you’ll understand why we wouldn’t trust anything you’d tell us.”
“Would you trust anything we tell you?” Magnus added.
“I would,” said Shinyun, “because you are all so painfully without guile that you think telling me the truth will somehow win me over. Like I will have no choice but to respect your integrity and high principles.”
“Aw,” said Magnus, “you know you respect my integrity and high principles secretly.”
Shinyun let out a long and annoyed groan, a strangely expressive sound coming from her motionless face. “Do you want to know where your friend is or not?”
“Not unless you tell us why you’re offering your help,” Jace said.
“Because I am annoyed,” said Shinyun flatly.
“Annoyed at us? Annoyed at Simon?” said Magnus.
“Annoyed at Sammael,” Shinyun snapped. “For months every moment has been dedicated to his grand master plan, the ultimate payoff for all the work he’s done, all the work I’ve done, and then you show up and he becomes totally distracted by some stupid petty grievance.”
“You mean Simon?” said Clary, aghast. “So Sammael grabbed him when we first came through the Portal? What is Sammael doing to him?”
“And why Simon?” demanded Alec.
“They’ve definitely never met before,” said Jace. “I know Simon goes to some weird parties in Brooklyn, but it’s still impossible.” He glanced at Clary. “It is impossible, right?”